Tomorrow is only a day away — ‘Annie’ takes the stage at Marquette Catholic High School

Vicki Bennington, For The Telegraph

Published
10:25 pm CDT, Wednesday, March 30, 2016

On the streets of New York City, a new “Star To Be (Amarria Mumphard, center),” belts out a song while people on the street stop to listen, from left, Brooke (Brooke Lucas), Annie (Margaret Sommerhof), taxi driver (Kelcey Johnson), Trinity (Trinity Brooks) and Abby (Abby Fahnestock). less

On the streets of New York City, a new “Star To Be (Amarria Mumphard, center),” belts out a song while people on the street stop to listen, from left, Brooke (Brooke Lucas), Annie (Margaret Sommerhof), taxi ... more

Photo: For The Telegraph

Photo: For The Telegraph

Image
1of/4

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 4

On the streets of New York City, a new “Star To Be (Amarria Mumphard, center),” belts out a song while people on the street stop to listen, from left, Brooke (Brooke Lucas), Annie (Margaret Sommerhof), taxi driver (Kelcey Johnson), Trinity (Trinity Brooks) and Abby (Abby Fahnestock). less

On the streets of New York City, a new “Star To Be (Amarria Mumphard, center),” belts out a song while people on the street stop to listen, from left, Brooke (Brooke Lucas), Annie (Margaret Sommerhof), taxi ... more

Photo: For The Telegraph

Tomorrow is only a day away — ‘Annie’ takes the stage at Marquette Catholic High School

1 / 4

Back to Gallery

ALTON — Production and music director Loftin C. Woodiel is once again bringing a classic musical to the Marquette Catholic High School stage with the presentation of “Annie - The Musical,” opening Thursday, April 7.

Though this is the first time he has directed “Annie,” Woodiel said it’s always been on his musical bucket list because it is a terrific story highlighting optimism in the midst of turmoil and depression.

“Optimism is just what the ‘doctor’ ordered,” he said. “I have found that optimism is the key to success no matter how great the obstacle. This is a message that I want my students to take with them from this project and apply to their lives.”

Originally based on the popular comic strip, “Little Orphan Annie” by Harold Gray, “Annie – The Musical” became a world-wide phenomenon when it hit the stage in 1977, and was the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The book and score by Tony Award-winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin features some of the greatest musical theatre hits ever written including “Tomorrow.” The show’s endearing message and loveable characters continue to make it a favorite for new generations, as well as nostalgic entertainment for those who have been a part of the audience time and time again.

Just in case you don’t know the story, it begins with 11-year-old little orphan Annie — full of positivity, who charms everyone’s hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find her parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City orphanage that is run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Her fellow orphans remind Annie that she was left with one-half of a silver locket. Her parents kept the other half so they could come back some day and claim her. Annie dreams about the parents she imagines, but has never known.

With the help of the other girls in the orphanage, Annie escapes and embarks on adventure after fun-filled adventure in New York, rescues a dog named, Sandy, and even befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. She meets billionaire Oliver Warbucks and his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, who fall in love with Annie — a meeting that may change the course of her life forever.

“The students have moved on this show very quickly in illuminating the positive and negative human behaviors demonstrated,” Woodiel said. “The recognition of optimism is stage-wide.

“The production phrase, ‘Aw gee’ has become a part of the students’ jesting vocabulary when the moment needs a little boost of optimism,” he said.

Listen for the deep rich baritone voice of Anthony Shepard as Daddy Warbucks, Woodiel said, and the captivating soprano voice and dramatic acting talents of Margaret Sommerhof as Annie, and of course, the comedic antics of Aggie Hannigan — played by Catherine Hamilton, Rooster Hannigan, played by Joe File, and all of the orphans.

In addition to Woodiel, faculty contributions are theatre production by Cynthia E. Woodiel, artistic design and set by Molly Velikis, and casting by Megan Jackson.

“I am blessed with a very talented cast and crew,” Woodiel said.

Other memorable tunes in the production include, “Maybe,” “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “Little Girls,” “Easy Street,” and “Something Was Missing,” among others.

“Annie - The Musical” will be presented at 7:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, April 7 to 9 on the Marquette Catholic High School stage at 219 East 4th Street in Alton. Tickets cost $5 for adults; $3 for students K through 12. Pre-K and under get in free.